Interpreters and Translators: Career Profile
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
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The Daily Work of Interpreters and Translators Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of interpreters and translators cover:
- Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
- Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
- Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
- Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience.
What Interpreters and Translators Need to Know
Successful interpreters and translators draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Interpreters and Translators Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter)
- Arabic Translator
- Bilingual Interpreter
- Bilingual Secretary
- Braille Transcriber
- Braille Translator
- Community Interpreter
- Contract Translator
How Many Interpreters and Translators Are There?
There are roughly 378,567 interpreters and translators working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +12.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Interpreters and Translators
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $52,627 |
| Hourly median | $25.30 |
| 10th percentile | $35,589 |
| 25th percentile | $44,108 |
| 75th percentile | $61,145 |
| 90th percentile | $69,664 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Interpreters and Translators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $84,650 |
| District of Columbia | $81,140 |
| Maryland | $78,350 |
| Virginia | $74,250 |
| California | $73,510 |
| Washington | $69,620 |
| Colorado | $66,590 |
| Utah | $65,990 |
| Massachusetts | $65,490 |
| West Virginia | $63,750 |
| Minnesota | $63,440 |
| Georgia | $61,610 |
| Oregon | $61,520 |
| Wisconsin | $61,000 |
| Vermont | $60,210 |
| Alaska | $59,280 |
| New Mexico | $59,010 |
| Ohio | $57,850 |
| Connecticut | $57,700 |
| Wyoming | $57,700 |
| Idaho | $56,340 |
| Maine | $54,890 |
| New Hampshire | $54,650 |
| Illinois | $53,870 |
| Kentucky | $53,820 |
| Michigan | $52,240 |
| Missouri | $52,080 |
| Arkansas | $50,880 |
| North Carolina | $50,830 |
| Iowa | $50,110 |
| Delaware | $49,790 |
| South Dakota | $49,630 |
| Tennessee | $49,270 |
| Nebraska | $49,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,010 |
| Arizona | $48,200 |
| Nevada | $47,890 |
| Kansas | $47,830 |
| Hawaii | $47,580 |
| Indiana | $47,470 |
| South Carolina | $47,060 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,700 |
| Oklahoma | $46,640 |
| Florida | $46,320 |
| Montana | $46,240 |
| North Dakota | $46,150 |
| Alabama | $45,760 |
| Texas | $45,610 |
| New Jersey | $45,120 |
| Louisiana | $45,060 |
| Mississippi | $43,410 |
Where Interpreters and Translators Earn the Most
Earnings for interpreters and translators vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $71,670 | 12.9% | 0.92 |
| Far Western US | $70,000 | 19.0% | 1.18 |
| Rocky Mountains | $64,063 | 3.7% | 0.98 |
| New England | $59,432 | 5.5% | 1.54 |
| Great Lakes | $55,136 | 11.7% | 0.89 |
| Southeast | $55,124 | 24.6% | 1.22 |
| Plains States | $54,225 | 6.0% | 1.06 |
| Southwest | $46,972 | 16.2% | 1.35 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $98,910 | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $96,510 | 340 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $85,660 | 40 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $85,590 | 2,000 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $84,670 | 840 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $83,740 | 3,060 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | FL | $81,600 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $80,120 | 760 |
Which Industries Hire Interpreters and Translators
The bulk of interpreters and translators are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 21,060 | $59,020 |
| Educational Services | 12,180 | $60,560 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 9,180 | $57,530 |
| Information | 2,350 | $80,120 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,190 | $33,670 |
| Manufacturing | 600 | $49,600 |
| Finance and Insurance | 470 | $51,490 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 420 | $49,900 |
Below are examples of industries where interpreters and translators work:
Tech Stack
- Web platform development software: Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Project management software: Productivity software (in demand)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for interpreters and translators tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
Getting Started in This Career
Most interpreters and translators positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Social Science Research Assistants (Primary-Long)
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (Supplemental)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Supplemental)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Long)
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School (Supplemental)
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for interpreters and translators typically earn programs in:
Education
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators).
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